Timothy Olyphant
Encyclopedia
Timothy David Olyphant is an American actor whose notable roles in television drama series include Deadwood
as Seth Bullock, Justified
as Raylan Givens
, The Office as Danny Cordray, and Damages
as Wes Krulik. He has also starred in the films Scream 2
, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dreamcatcher
, Live Free or Die Hard
, A Perfect Getaway
, The Crazies
, Hitman
and I Am Number Four.
, California, a city of 200,000 southeast of San Francisco, where he was raised. Olyphant began competitive swimming at age 6, and started training seriously in the seventh grade under coach Darrell Lohrke, who came to Modesto via Arden Hills Swimming and Tennis Club. Olyphant made remarkable strides and soon became a nationally ranked swimmer. He was a finalist at the USA Swimming Short Course National Championships in 1986 in the 200 Individual Medley. He graduated from Modesto's Fred C. Beyer High School
that year.
Olyphant continued swimming at the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles, where he studied fine art
. He took a beginning acting class as an elective at UC Irvine, in order to fulfill the final credits he needed to graduate from USC. Olyphant then decided to move to New York City to study acting, rather than pursue a master's degree in fine arts. He took acting classes with William Esper at William Esper Studio
for two years, and then started looking for acting work.
' production of The Monogamist as Tim Hapgood. He received the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance
for his performance. He subsequently appeared in the one-man play The SantaLand Diaries
in 1996, written by David Sedaris
, adapted and directed by Joe Mantello
, and in Plunge.
Olyphant returned to Los Angeles and found work in television. He landed his first TV role in a pilot for a remake of the series 77 Sunset Strip
in 1995, produced by Clint Eastwood
. He was cast in the pilot of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996), a short-lived CBS spy series, as Scooby, Mr. Smith's (Scott Bakula
's) assistant. Olyphant appeared in 3 episodes of the acclaimed police drama High Incident
and in the Hallmark Channel
TV film Ellen Foster in 1997. A role in the HBO movie When Trumpets Fade
was next in 1998, a dramatization of the 1944 Battle of Hürtgen Forest
, followed by a guest starring role in the Sex and the City
episode "Valley of the Twenty Something Guys", as one of Carrie Bradshaw
's boyfriends.
Olyphant made his feature film debut with a small part in The First Wives Club
(1996). He appeared briefly in A Life Less Ordinary
(1997), starring Ewan McGregor
, but gained notice starring in the horror film Scream 2
(1997), as a cynical film student, Mickey. He portrayed the drug dealer Todd Gaines in Go
(1999), directed by Doug Liman
, a comedy-drama with Katie Holmes
, Scott Wolf
and Sarah Polley
in the cast, and a script by first time screenwriter John August
. He followed the role up with parts in Advice from a Caterpillar (1999), No Vacancy (1999), The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000) and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000).
Olyphant played the lead role of Sheriff Seth Bullock on HBO
's Deadwood
from March 2004 until the series end. Olyphant considered it to be one of his first leading roles as a "complicated" and "complex" character.
He had previously had roles in Rock Star
(2001) and Dreamcatcher
(2003). He played a porn film producer in The Girl Next Door in 2004 alongside Emile Hirsch
and Elisha Cuthbert
.
In January 2007, Olyphant appeared in the comedy Catch and Release, playing the love interest of Jennifer Garner
's character; Olyphant was cast in the role over several other known actors, including Matthew Fox
. Olyphant had studied acting alongside Jennifer Garner when he moved to New York. He next appeared in Live Free or Die Hard
, as the villain, a cyber-terrorist
and in Hitman
, as the title character
. Olyphant shaved his head for his role in Hitman. His 2008 roles included Stop-Loss
, about the Iraq War, playing a Lieutenant Colonel
, Meet Bill
, a comedy co-starring Aaron Eckhart
and Jessica Alba
, and a voice-acting role in Turok (2008) as Cowboy.
Olyphant served as the on-air, unpaid sports commentator for Joe Escalante
's morning show on LA radio station Indie 103.1, every Monday through Friday, until the channel's demise in January 2009.
In June 2008 he joined the cast of FX's show Damages
, starring Glenn Close
. As a result, his part in Samantha Who? was recast and filled by Billy Zane
. In 2009, he starred with Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich in the thriller A Perfect Getaway
as an Iraq war veteran and possible serial killer of honeymooners on the Hawaii islands. In 2010, he featured in the lead role of the town sheriff in the remake film The Crazies
.
In the spring of 2010, Olyphant began portraying the lead role of Raylan Givens
in the FX series Justified
. His character is a 21st century U.S. Marshal who, for his questionable tactics, is banished to the part of Kentucky in which he was born and raised. Givens wears a Stetson
hat and behaves like an Old West sheriff. The show is based on a character created by Elmore Leonard
in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap, and the short story "Fire in the Hole". The pilot episode was an adaptation of the latter. Olyphant played a paper salesman in two episodes of the seventh season of the NBC comedy The Office. He returned to the role for Steve Carell's second-to-last episode, but his scenes were cut. However, they can be seen on the Season 7 DVD. Olyphant's most recent role was in 2011 as the voice of "The Spirit of the West" in the animated picture Rango
.
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
as Seth Bullock, Justified
Justified (TV series)
Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
as Raylan Givens
Raylan Givens
Raylan Givens is a fictional character created by American novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard.Givens is a Deputy U.S. Marshal and initially appeared in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap. Leonard later penned the short story "Fire in the Hole". which became the basis for the television...
, The Office as Danny Cordray, and Damages
Damages (TV series)
Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...
as Wes Krulik. He has also starred in the films Scream 2
Scream 2
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series...
, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher (film)
Dreamcatcher is a 2003 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It was directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and co-written by Kasdan and screenwriter William Goldman...
, Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard , is a 2007 American action film, and the fourth installment in the Die Hard series. The film was directed by Len Wiseman and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The name was adapted from the state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die"...
, A Perfect Getaway
A Perfect Getaway
A Perfect Getaway is a 2009 American psychological thriller film written and directed by David Twohy, and stars Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez and Steve Zahn. The film was shot in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and was released on August 7, 2009 in United States, and on August 12 in the...
, The Crazies
The Crazies (2010 film)
The Crazies is a 2010 American horror film directed by Breck Eisner. Written by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright, the film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero, who is also the executive producer and co-writer of the remake....
, Hitman
Hitman (2007 film)
Hitman is a 2007 film directed by Xavier Gens and based on the video game series of the same name. A gun-for-hire "Hitman" is a genetically-engineered assassin known as Agent 47. He is hired by a group, 'The Organization' and becomes ensnared in a political conspiracy. He finds himself pursued by...
and I Am Number Four.
Early life
Olyphant was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Katherine and John Vernon Bevan Olyphant, a college teacher who worked for a winery. Olyphant moved to ModestoModesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, California, a city of 200,000 southeast of San Francisco, where he was raised. Olyphant began competitive swimming at age 6, and started training seriously in the seventh grade under coach Darrell Lohrke, who came to Modesto via Arden Hills Swimming and Tennis Club. Olyphant made remarkable strides and soon became a nationally ranked swimmer. He was a finalist at the USA Swimming Short Course National Championships in 1986 in the 200 Individual Medley. He graduated from Modesto's Fred C. Beyer High School
Fred C. Beyer High School
Fred C. Beyer High School is a high school in Modesto, California, located in the San Joaquin Valley.-Facilities:Although when it was opened in 1972 to an enrollment of 975 students, mostly freshmen and only a smattering of upperclassmen who transferred from other schools voluntarily, Beyer was...
that year.
Olyphant continued swimming at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles, where he studied fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
. He took a beginning acting class as an elective at UC Irvine, in order to fulfill the final credits he needed to graduate from USC. Olyphant then decided to move to New York City to study acting, rather than pursue a master's degree in fine arts. He took acting classes with William Esper at William Esper Studio
William Esper Studio
The William Esper Studio is a school for the performing arts located in Manhattan, New York; the school was founded in 1965.-Background:When William "Bill" Esper was a young man, he saw Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton in a touring production of The Rose Tattoo ... "[I] was so struck by the...
for two years, and then started looking for acting work.
Career
Olyphant began acting off-Broadway, making his professional debut in 1995 in the Playwrights HorizonsPlaywrights Horizons
Playwrights Horizons is a not-for-profit Off-Broadway theater located in New York City dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers, and lyricists, and to the production of their new work....
' production of The Monogamist as Tim Hapgood. He received the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance
Theatre World Award
The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
for his performance. He subsequently appeared in the one-man play The SantaLand Diaries
SantaLand Diaries
"SantaLand Diaries" is an essay by David Sedaris. It is a true and humorous account of Sedaris' stint working as a Christmas elf in "SantaLand" at Macy's department store....
in 1996, written by David Sedaris
David Sedaris
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor....
, adapted and directed by Joe Mantello
Joe Mantello
Joseph Mantello is an American actor and director best known for his work on Broadway productions of Wicked, Take Me Out and Assassins, as well as earlier in his career being one of the original Broadway cast of Angels in America...
, and in Plunge.
Olyphant returned to Los Angeles and found work in television. He landed his first TV role in a pilot for a remake of the series 77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip is an hour-length American television private detective series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith, and Edd Byrnes....
in 1995, produced by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
. He was cast in the pilot of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996), a short-lived CBS spy series, as Scooby, Mr. Smith's (Scott Bakula
Scott Bakula
Scott Stewart Bakula is an American actor, known for his role as Sam Beckett in the television series Quantum Leap, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1991 and was nominated for four Emmy Awards. He also had a prominent role as Captain Jonathan...
's) assistant. Olyphant appeared in 3 episodes of the acclaimed police drama High Incident
High Incident
High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson...
and in the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
TV film Ellen Foster in 1997. A role in the HBO movie When Trumpets Fade
When Trumpets Fade
When Trumpets Fade is a 1998 war film directed by John Irvin, produced by John Kemeny and written by W.W. Vought. It is based on a true story of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest in Autumn of 1944 during World War II...
was next in 1998, a dramatization of the 1944 Battle of Hürtgen Forest
Battle of Hurtgen Forest
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
, followed by a guest starring role in the Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
episode "Valley of the Twenty Something Guys", as one of Carrie Bradshaw
Carrie Bradshaw
Carrie Preston is the fictional narrator and lead character of the HBO sitcom/drama Sex and the City, portrayed by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. She is a semi-autobiographical character created by Candace Bushnell, who published the book Sex and the City, based on her own columns in the New York...
's boyfriends.
Olyphant made his feature film debut with a small part in The First Wives Club
The First Wives Club
The First Wives Club is a 1996 comedy film, based on the best-selling 1992 novel of the same name by Olivia Goldsmith. Narrated by Diane Keaton, it stars Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler as three divorced women who seek revenge on their husbands who left them for younger women...
(1996). He appeared briefly in A Life Less Ordinary
A Life Less Ordinary
A Life Less Ordinary is a 1997 British black comedy film directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge. It stars Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter, and Delroy Lindo.-Plot:...
(1997), starring Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
, but gained notice starring in the horror film Scream 2
Scream 2
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series...
(1997), as a cynical film student, Mickey. He portrayed the drug dealer Todd Gaines in Go
Go (1999 film)
Go is a 1999 comedy thriller film written by John August and directed by Doug Liman, with three intertwining plots that happen to involve one drug deal. The film stars William Fichtner, Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, Sarah Polley and Scott Wolf and features Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer, Timothy Olyphant,...
(1999), directed by Doug Liman
Doug Liman
Douglas Eric "Doug" Liman is an American film director and producer best known for Swingers , The Bourne Identity , Mr. & Mrs. Smith , Jumper , and Fair Game .-Early life:...
, a comedy-drama with Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes
Katherine Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003. Her movie roles have included the blockbuster Batman Begins along with art house films such as The Ice Storm and thrillers...
, Scott Wolf
Scott Wolf
Scott Richard Wolf is an American actor, known for his roles on the television series Party of Five as Bailey Salinger and on Everwood as Dr. Jake Hartman. Since 2009, he has appeared in the Sci-Fi series V as the morally ambiguous journalist, Chad Decker.-Early life:Wolf was born in Boston,...
and Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
in the cast, and a script by first time screenwriter John August
John August
John August is an American screenwriter and film director. He also writes and maintains the popular screenwriting blog , and develops screenwriter-targeted software....
. He followed the role up with parts in Advice from a Caterpillar (1999), No Vacancy (1999), The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000) and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000).
Olyphant played the lead role of Sheriff Seth Bullock on HBO
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
's Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
from March 2004 until the series end. Olyphant considered it to be one of his first leading roles as a "complicated" and "complex" character.
He had previously had roles in Rock Star
Rock Star (2001 film)
Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim...
(2001) and Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher (film)
Dreamcatcher is a 2003 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It was directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and co-written by Kasdan and screenwriter William Goldman...
(2003). He played a porn film producer in The Girl Next Door in 2004 alongside Emile Hirsch
Emile Hirsch
Emile Davenport Hirsch is an American television and film actor. He began performing in the late 1990s, appearing in several television films and series, and became known as a film actor after roles in Lords of Dogtown, The Emperor's Club, The Girl Next Door, Alpha Dog, and Into the Wild. In...
and Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Ann Cuthbert is a Canadian film and television actress. Cuthbert is known as the former co-host of the Canadian children's television series Popular Mechanics for Kids. In 1998, she had her first film role in Airspeed. She followed this in 2003 with a role in Old School...
.
In January 2007, Olyphant appeared in the comedy Catch and Release, playing the love interest of Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Anne Affleck , better known as Jennifer Garner, is an American actress and film producer. Garner gained recognition on television for her performance as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in the thriller drama series Alias, which aired on ABC for five seasons from 2001 to 2006...
's character; Olyphant was cast in the role over several other known actors, including Matthew Fox
Matthew Fox (actor)
Matthew Chandler Fox is an American actor. He is mostly known for his role as Charlie Salinger on Party of Five, and for portraying Jack Shephard on the supernatural drama television series Lost.- Early life :...
. Olyphant had studied acting alongside Jennifer Garner when he moved to New York. He next appeared in Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard , is a 2007 American action film, and the fourth installment in the Die Hard series. The film was directed by Len Wiseman and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The name was adapted from the state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die"...
, as the villain, a cyber-terrorist
Cyber-terrorism
Cyberterrorism is the use of Internet based attacks in terrorist activities, including acts of deliberate, large-scale disruption of computer networks, especially of personal computers attached to the Internet, by the means of tools such as computer viruses....
and in Hitman
Hitman (2007 film)
Hitman is a 2007 film directed by Xavier Gens and based on the video game series of the same name. A gun-for-hire "Hitman" is a genetically-engineered assassin known as Agent 47. He is hired by a group, 'The Organization' and becomes ensnared in a political conspiracy. He finds himself pursued by...
, as the title character
Agent 47
Agent 47 is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the Hitman video-game series. Created by IO Interactive, the character was developed around David Bateson, who also provided the in-game voice...
. Olyphant shaved his head for his role in Hitman. His 2008 roles included Stop-Loss
Stop-Loss (film)
Stop-Loss is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and starring Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by MTV Films.-Plot:...
, about the Iraq War, playing a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, Meet Bill
Bill (film)
Meet Bill is a 2007 comedy film written and directed by Bernie Goldmann and Melisa Wallick and starring Aaron Eckhart as the titular character.- Plot :...
, a comedy co-starring Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Edward Eckhart is an American film and stage actor. Born in California, he moved to England at the age of 13, when his father relocated the family. Several years later, he began his acting career by performing in school plays, before moving to Sydney, Australia, for his high school senior year...
and Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba is an American television and film actress. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack . Alba rose to prominence as the lead actress in the television series Dark Angel...
, and a voice-acting role in Turok (2008) as Cowboy.
Olyphant served as the on-air, unpaid sports commentator for Joe Escalante
Joe Escalante
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Escalante is an American musician, record label owner, radio host, film and music video director, and amateur matador, as well as a former television executive and entertainment lawyer...
's morning show on LA radio station Indie 103.1, every Monday through Friday, until the channel's demise in January 2009.
In June 2008 he joined the cast of FX's show Damages
Damages (TV series)
Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...
, starring Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
. As a result, his part in Samantha Who? was recast and filled by Billy Zane
Billy Zane
William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
. In 2009, he starred with Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich in the thriller A Perfect Getaway
A Perfect Getaway
A Perfect Getaway is a 2009 American psychological thriller film written and directed by David Twohy, and stars Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez and Steve Zahn. The film was shot in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and was released on August 7, 2009 in United States, and on August 12 in the...
as an Iraq war veteran and possible serial killer of honeymooners on the Hawaii islands. In 2010, he featured in the lead role of the town sheriff in the remake film The Crazies
The Crazies (2010 film)
The Crazies is a 2010 American horror film directed by Breck Eisner. Written by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright, the film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero, who is also the executive producer and co-writer of the remake....
.
In the spring of 2010, Olyphant began portraying the lead role of Raylan Givens
Raylan Givens
Raylan Givens is a fictional character created by American novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard.Givens is a Deputy U.S. Marshal and initially appeared in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap. Leonard later penned the short story "Fire in the Hole". which became the basis for the television...
in the FX series Justified
Justified (TV series)
Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
. His character is a 21st century U.S. Marshal who, for his questionable tactics, is banished to the part of Kentucky in which he was born and raised. Givens wears a Stetson
Stetson
Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...
hat and behaves like an Old West sheriff. The show is based on a character created by Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap, and the short story "Fire in the Hole". The pilot episode was an adaptation of the latter. Olyphant played a paper salesman in two episodes of the seventh season of the NBC comedy The Office. He returned to the role for Steve Carell's second-to-last episode, but his scenes were cut. However, they can be seen on the Season 7 DVD. Olyphant's most recent role was in 2011 as the voice of "The Spirit of the West" in the animated picture Rango
Rango
Rango was a Western situation comedy starring comedian Tim Conway which was broadcast in the United States on the ABC television network in 1967....
.
Personal life
Olyphant lives in Westwood, Los Angeles with his wife, Alexis Knief, and their three children: Grace, Henry, and Lilly. The couple married in July 1991.Film and television credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Brett Artounian | ||
| 1997 | Hiker | ||
| 1997 | Scream 2 Scream 2 Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series... |
Mickey Altieri | |
| 1998 | 1999 (Girls and Boys) | Hooks | |
| 1998 | When Trumpets Fade When Trumpets Fade When Trumpets Fade is a 1998 war film directed by John Irvin, produced by John Kemeny and written by W.W. Vought. It is based on a true story of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest in Autumn of 1944 during World War II... |
Lt. Terrence Lukas | |
| 1999 | No Vacancy | Luke | |
| 1999 | Go Go (1999 film) Go is a 1999 comedy thriller film written by John August and directed by Doug Liman, with three intertwining plots that happen to involve one drug deal. The film stars William Fichtner, Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, Sarah Polley and Scott Wolf and features Taye Diggs, Breckin Meyer, Timothy Olyphant,... |
Todd Gaines | |
| 1999 | Advice from a Caterpillar | Brat | |
| 2000 | Gone in 60 Seconds | Det. Drycoff | |
| 2000 | Dennis | ||
| 2001 | Head Over Heels | Michael | |
| 2001 | Auggie Rose Auggie Rose Auggie Rose, also known as Beyond Suspicion, is a 2001 drama film starring Jeff Goldblum and Anne Heche. It was originally shown on Cinemax and then released on video with the title Beyond Suspicion before a limited theatrical release in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.- Plot :Insurance... |
Roy Mason | |
| 2001 | Rock Star Rock Star (2001 film) Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim... |
Rob Malcolm – Guitarist, Blood Pollution | |
| 2001 | Doppelganger | Brian | |
| 2002 | Coastlines Coastlines Coastlines is an independent 2002 dramatic film written and directed by Victor Nunez.-Cast:* Timothy Olyphant as Sonny Mann* Josh Brolin as Dave Lockhart* Sarah Wynter as Ann Lockhart* Scott Wilson as Pa Mann* Angela Bettis as Effie Bender... |
Sonny Mann | |
| 2003 | Randy | ||
| 2003 | Dreamcatcher Dreamcatcher (film) Dreamcatcher is a 2003 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It was directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and co-written by Kasdan and screenwriter William Goldman... |
Pete Moore | |
| 2003 | Hollywood Jack | ||
| 2004 | Kelly | ||
| 2007 | Catch and Release | Fritz | |
| 2007 | Live Free or Die Hard Live Free or Die Hard Live Free or Die Hard , is a 2007 American action film, and the fourth installment in the Die Hard series. The film was directed by Len Wiseman and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The name was adapted from the state motto of New Hampshire, "Live Free or Die"... |
Thomas Gabriel | (also known as Die Hard 4.0) |
| 2007 | Hitman Hitman (2007 film) Hitman is a 2007 film directed by Xavier Gens and based on the video game series of the same name. A gun-for-hire "Hitman" is a genetically-engineered assassin known as Agent 47. He is hired by a group, 'The Organization' and becomes ensnared in a political conspiracy. He finds himself pursued by... |
Agent 47 Agent 47 Agent 47 is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the Hitman video-game series. Created by IO Interactive, the character was developed around David Bateson, who also provided the in-game voice... |
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| 2008 | Stop-Loss Stop-Loss (film) Stop-Loss is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kimberly Peirce and starring Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by MTV Films.-Plot:... |
Lt. Col. Boot Miller | |
| 2008 | Meet Bill | Chip | |
| 2009 | Nick | Nominated — Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor The Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the annual awards given by the Toronto Film Critics Association.-2000s:-2010s:... |
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| 2009 | High Life High Life (film) High Life is a 2009 Canadian film based on the stage play by Lee MacDougall, written by Lee MacDougall and directed by Gary Yates. Starring Timothy Olyphant, Stephen Eric McIntyre, Joe Anderson and Rossif Sutherland, High Life is a comedic heist movie from the flip-side of the 80’s consumer dream.-... |
Dick | |
| 2010 | Pierce County Sheriff David Dutten | ||
| 2010 | Elektra Luxx Elektra Luxx Elektra Luxx is a 2010 comedy film directed and written by Sebastian Gutierrez featuring Carla Gugino. The film is a sequel to the ensemble comedy, Women in Trouble. The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival 2010, and was released to the rest of the country on March 11, 2011... |
Del | |
| 2011 | I Am Number Four | Henri | |
| 2011 | Rango Rango (2011 film) Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western Comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Graham King. In the film, a chameleon named Rango accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff... |
The Spirit of the West | Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Scooby | Pilot guest star |
| 1997–98 | High Incident High Incident High Incident is a police drama series produced by DreamWorks Television for the ABC network. The show was created by Steven Spielberg, Michael Pavone, Eric Bogosian and Dave Alan Johnson... |
Brett Farraday | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Sex and the City Sex and the City Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes... |
Sam | Guest star, 1 episode |
| 2002 | Night Visions Night Visions Night Visions is an American television anthology series created in the style of The Twilight Zone. Each 43 minute episode was made up of two 21 to 22 minutes stories that dealt with themes of the supernatural or simply explored the dark side of human nature. Henry Rollins was the uncredited host... |
Eli | Guest star, 1 episode |
| 2004–06 | Deadwood Deadwood (TV series) Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before... |
Sheriff Seth Bullock | Lead actor, 36 episodes |
| 2006 | My Name Is Earl My Name Is Earl My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States... |
Billy Reed | Guest star, 1 episode |
| 2009–10 | Damages Damages (TV series) Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own... |
Wes Krulik | Regular role season 2, guest role season 3 |
| 2009 | Samantha Who? Samantha Who? Samantha Who? is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from October 15, 2007 to July 23, 2009. The series was created by Cecelia Ahern and Don Todd, who also served as producers... |
Winston Funk | 1 episode |
| 2010-present | Justified Justified (TV series) Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky... |
Raylan Givens Raylan Givens Raylan Givens is a fictional character created by American novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard.Givens is a Deputy U.S. Marshal and initially appeared in the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap. Leonard later penned the short story "Fire in the Hole". which became the basis for the television... |
Lead actor, Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2010 | Danny Cordray | Guest star, episodes "The Sting The Sting (The Office) "The Sting" is the fifth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 131st episode overall. Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Randall Einhorn, the episode aired on NBC in the United States on October 21, 2010... " and "Costume Contest Costume Contest "Costume Contest" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 132nd episode overall. Written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Dean Holland, the episode aired on NBC in the United States on October 28, 2010... " |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, with Raven Software having assisted in development... |
Grinch/Alfred |